Clay, Glaze or Beads?

We arrived in Florida the weekend of the Daytona 500, so we watched the Good Year blimp overhead from the backyard on it's way to the Speedway for the start of the big race, and watched it again as it headed out of town. 

Usually when we go to Florida for vacation, I mail myself some clay ahead of time, so I don't go through withdrawals.  Call me crazy, but my idea of an ideal vacation is some time at the beach, catching up with friends, not cooking, and playing with clay! Before we left this year, I couldn't decide if I wanted to work with clay, glaze or beading, so I mailed myself all three.  

First I photographed the beautiful batch of beads my bead soup swap partner Betty sent me, since I didn't have a chance before I left.  It's rare that the sun comes out in the winter in NH when I actually have time to spend taking photos, so thankfully the Florida sun didn't disappoint.  Now I just need to take the time to figure out what I'm going to make with Betty's soup.  We're in the 3rd reveal which is April 13th.

Then, the question was, clay or glaze?  Usually that's not an issue, because clay is all I have on hand down there, but this year I poured a little of each of my favorite cone 6 glazes in plastic to-go containers. Just the right size for transport, and shipped them off.

As the blimp flew overhead, I unpacked the glazes, and was happy to see that with the help of some tape and bubble wrap, the lids stayed on nicely.  Playing with clay is usually my first choice, since it's more fluid and not as meticulous as glazing, but since I never make enough time to glaze, this would be a good time for it.

 

 

I focused primarily on stoneware and porcelain seashore pendants, and some matching coins, and beads.  I also glazed a few shank buttons I made recently to see how those would turn out.

Unfortunately I overloaded the kiln, and a dozen or so pieces collided during the firing. I was unable to save a few of them that fused together. This pendant and bead combo reminds me a little of Mickey Mouse.

 Fortunately most of the pieces turned out fine,

and I've been listing them in my Etsy shop.  I'm glad I took the time to glaze, and next year I'll have my little containers awaiting me in Florida for the next batch.  Now, I need to get stirring my bead soup!!

My Bead Soup Arrived!

Well, it actually arrived a while ago, but I'm on vacation so I haven't been able to blog about it until now.  Our computer in Florida died, so I'm getting used to this new laptop which seems to have a mind of it's own.  But Anyway....  This fabulous package arrived from my swap partner Betty for the Bead Soup Blog hop! It was wrapped up and tied with this beautiful red bow and nestled carefully in this very cool dish made from an inverted bottle which I'm assuming Betty made since I know she works with glass. Betty created this adorable tropical lampwork fish pendant just for me.  It's so cute, I Love it! Enclosed was also a write up on Kazuri beads which I've never seen up close and personal, so I couldn't wait to see what other surprises may be awaiting in her package.

Well, a Very delightful surprise indeed! I opened it up and found a treasure trove of beautiful delights that I know I'm going to enjoy creating with.

Such a great mix of glass, ceramic and wooden beads with a very ethnic feel which is one of my favorite themes to work with.  Betty also included some copper beads, some crystal bicones, some beading cord and I Love the copper star toggle!  Thanks so much Betty for this very inspiring mix!

2013 Spring Jewelry Stringing Bracelet

Last fall when Jewelry Stringing magazine had submission calls for the 2013 spring issue, I was drawn to their Coachella Chic palette with it's bright and bold hues of gold, turquoise, raspberry pink, green and a spicy orange.  The palette named for the annual Coachella California music festival rekindled the hippie in me and inspired me to take out the macrame cord and get knotting. Stringing suggested creating something with a tribal or ethnic flare.

I started by making a simple square knot pattern with turquoise and gold hemp, and weaving in some of my Clayworksnh stoneware coins, stoneware golden beech leaves, and finishing it with a matching toggle I made from stoneware clay as well.  Some vintage fuschia wooden beads I recycled from some of my "fair finds" added some extra "oomph" and I completed the palette with some green and gold ceramic washers.  Some vintage feathers and a little dancing tribal charm put the perfect finishing touch for a very fun to wear piece.

My Bead Soup Partner!

I was so excited to find out my bead soup partner for the bead soup blog party swap is Betty James Happensteadt!

Betty is an accomplished artist and a teacher from Wheaton Illinois, and has a vast array of mediums she works with.  She loves "All things art" and loves to create realistic and organic sculptural forms in glass, metals, polymer clay and beadwork. She's also been an instructor in lampwork beads, drawing, ceramics, photography. 

Betty can usually be found in her studio the Genuine Article which is a workshop, gallery, bead shop, and a hands on classroom.  I wish I lived closer so I could check it out and take some classes from Betty!

Having Betty as a partner is a little intimidating as she is such a master and aficionado of fine arts and crafts, so I hope that Betty likes the soup I sent her and I can't wait to see what she's sending my way!  Here's a sneak peek at what I sent Betty.  You'll have to use your imagination.

I'm looking forward getting to know more about Betty and seeing what our collective creative processes bring.

50% Off All Hearts Sale and February Giveaway!

Save 50% Off on All heart items in my Clayworksnh Etsy shop through Friday, Feburary 8th. No coupon needed.

Heart Pendants, Components, Pins, Earrings, Ornaments and More.  Save 50% until midnight, February 8th. All Hearts and Heart Design Items are Marked 50% off.

** February Giveaway **

New Clayworks by Lisa Boucher Facebook Fans this week will be entered in a drawing for a $10.00 Gift Certificate in my Clayworksnh Etsy shop.  Winner to be announced Saturday, February 9th.

Cabin Fever & Valentines Sale!

What better way to spend a cold January weekend, than to take some photographs of my components so I can list them in my shop on Etsy?  

The past few years I've been focusing mostly on high fire stoneware and porcelain clay for my creations. However, my fondness for earthenware was rekindled at work recently when we had some staff pottery workshops before the holidays, or "Crafternoons" as we liked to call them.  We mostly made ornaments and it was so great that just about everyone got into it.  Here's a sampling from the fesitivities:

Since we were doing a large kiln firing of our masterpieces, I glazed several of my pendants, connectors and beads made from low fire white clay.  What I think I love the most about low fire clay is some of the fantastic bright glaze colors that I haven't quite been able to achieve with some the high fire glazes, especially the pink shades.

Yesterday while taking some photos, I arranged my pieces by color for a few group shots. These are combinations of stoneware, porcelain and earthenware.

I'm offering 20% off in my Clayworksnh Etsy shop today through midnight Tuesday, January 29th. Just enter code Cabin20 at checkout. Since Valentine's Day is only a few weeks away, I thought I'd get a jump on the holiday. Save on all items including beads, pendants, shawl pins, connectors, cabochons and more! Cheers to longer and warmer days!

Winter Happenings

Well, all of the hustle and bustle of Christmas has passed, and I hope you all are enjoying your holiday season. 

You might recall, back in September of 2010 I did a post on my future studio.  I've been patiently waiting and prompting Barry about getting it finished so I can use it. Well, one of the best Christmas presents this year has been seeing the progress being made from this:

 to this:

It's not quite finished yet, but it's all sided, has electricity, and heat, and by spring I'll be able to use it! Hopefully!

I was so engrossed in making ornaments this year, I'll be all stocked for next year's craft show.  I finally finished glazing the last batch of stoneware and porcelain ornaments and just removed them from the kiln.  These are decorated with actual snowflakes.

That should be enough of that until next year.  The snow however will be around for a while longer.  

Mixing it up with some low fire earthenware pieces, I recently glazed some bisque snowflakes & hearts, and here's some of the finished pendants and components I've been listing in my Etsy shop. As you can see, whether I'm using low fire or high fire clay, teal, turquoise, purples, green and blue seem to be where I gravitate with glaze.

Since Valentines day is on the way, I'll have to stir up some reds and pinks!  Until then, best wishes to you for a Very Happy New Year!